Some of America’s favorite baby names are also places on the map. Charlotte, which ranked No. 2 for girls born in 2025 in Social Security Administration data, is also the largest city in North Carolina. Austin, Savannah, Dakota and Brooklyn are all names you will hear on playgrounds and see on road signs.
This list brings together 82 baby names inspired by American states, cities and landmarks. For each one, you will find the meaning and origin of the name and a note about the place. Many of these names had a life long before the place existed, and we point that out so you know the full story.
Where American Place Names Come From
American place names are a record of the country’s history. They come from a few main sources, and each one gives a name a different flavor:
- Native American nations and languages. Dakota, Cheyenne, Shasta, Tahoe and Denali all come from Indigenous peoples or words.
- Spanish and French words and settlers. Florida, Nevada, Montana, Sierra and Laramie come from Spanish or French words and names.
- Royalty. Virginia honors Queen Elizabeth I, Georgia honors King George II and Charlotte honors Queen Charlotte.
- Founders and famous Americans. Austin, Houston, Lincoln, Madison and Jackson were named for people.
- Old World places. Settlers reused names like Boston, Memphis and Salem from England, Egypt and the Bible.
Because the country was settled by so many groups, the same state can hold names from several languages. California alone has Spanish names like Sierra and Catalina, Native names like Shasta and Tahoe, and English names like Berkeley. That mix is part of what makes American place names such a rich source of baby name ideas.
Names With a Double Life
Many place names were personal names or surnames first. Austin is a medieval English form of Augustine, meaning “great” or “venerable,” and the Texas capital was named for Stephen F. Austin. Savannah comes from the Spanish word sabana, a grassy plain, so the name describes a landscape as well as the Georgia city.
Others have roots in mythology or older languages. Phoenix is the mythical bird reborn from its ashes, Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Helena and Eugene are Greek names much older than the cities that carry them. Surname names like Madison, Jackson, Tyler and Logan began as family names and became places because a town honored a person. Knowing this can help you pick a name that means something to you, whether you love the place, the person or the original meaning.
Names From U.S. States
State names make bold, memorable first names. Some, like Georgia and Virginia, are long-standing classics, while Dakota and Montana feel more Western and free-spirited.
| No. | Name | Meaning | Origin | The Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | Of debated origin; often traced to an O’odham phrase or a Basque word | Native American or Basque, via Spanish | The Grand Canyon State |
| 2 | Carolina | From Carolus, Latin for Charles | Latin | North and South Carolina, named in honor of an English King Charles |
| 3 | Dakota | Friend, ally | Dakota (Sioux) | North and South Dakota, named for the Dakota people |
| 4 | Florida | Flowery, full of flowers | Spanish | Named by Spanish explorers; also linked to the Easter season, Pascua Florida |
| 5 | Georgia | Feminine of George, farmer | Greek | Named for King George II of Great Britain |
| 6 | Indiana | Land of the Indians | English, Latin | The Hoosier State |
| 7 | Montana | Mountain (from Spanish montaña) | Spanish, Latin | The Treasure State |
| 8 | Nevada | Snow-covered | Spanish | Named after the Sierra Nevada mountain range |
| 9 | Tennessee | Of unknown meaning; from the Cherokee town name Tanasi | Cherokee | The Volunteer State |
| 10 | Virginia | From a Roman family name | Latin | Named for Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen |
| 11 | Washington | Estate of Wassa’s people (an English place name) | Old English | The state and the capital, both named for George Washington |
City Names for Girls
These names pair a pretty sound with a real place, from Southern cities like Savannah and Charlotte to the New York borough of Brooklyn.
| No. | Name | Meaning | Origin | The Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abilene | Of uncertain meaning; a place named in the Gospel of Luke | Biblical | Cities in Texas and Kansas; the Kansas town took its name from Luke 3:1 |
| 2 | Alexandria | Defender of the people (from Alexander) | Greek | Alexandria, Virginia, named for the Alexander family |
| 3 | Atlanta | Usually traced to the Western and Atlantic Railroad | English | Capital of Georgia |
| 4 | Augusta | Venerable, majestic | Latin | Augusta, Georgia, named for Princess Augusta; also the capital of Maine |
| 5 | Aurora | Dawn; the Roman goddess of the dawn | Latin | Cities in Colorado and Illinois |
| 6 | Beverly | Beaver stream | Old English | Beverly Hills, California, and Beverly, Massachusetts |
| 7 | Brooklyn | From the Dutch village of Breukelen | Dutch | New York City borough |
| 8 | Catalina | Spanish form of Catherine | Greek, via Spanish | Santa Catalina Island, California, named for St. Catherine |
| 9 | Charlotte | Feminine of Charles, free man | Germanic, via French | Charlotte, North Carolina, named for Queen Charlotte, wife of George III |
| 10 | Chelsea | Chalk landing place | Old English | Manhattan neighborhood that shares its name with a district of London |
| 11 | Elizabeth | My God is an oath | Hebrew | Elizabeth, New Jersey, named for Elizabeth Carteret |
| 12 | Florence | Flourishing, blossoming | Latin | Cities in Alabama, South Carolina and other states |
| 13 | Helena | Of uncertain meaning; often linked to light | Greek | Capital of Montana |
| 14 | Madison | Son of Maud or Matthew (an English surname) | English | Capital of Wisconsin, named for James Madison |
| 15 | Marietta | Little Mary; a blend of Maria and Antoinette in Ohio | Italian, French | Marietta, Ohio, named for Marie Antoinette; also Marietta, Georgia |
| 16 | Savannah | Grassy plain, from Spanish sabana | Taíno, via Spanish | Savannah, Georgia, which shares its name with the Savannah River |
| 17 | Sedona | Of uncertain meaning | American | Arizona town named for Sedona Schnebly, an early resident |
| 18 | Bristol | Place at the bridge | Old English | Twin cities on the Tennessee-Virginia border |
| 19 | Carmel | Garden, orchard | Hebrew | Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, and Carmel, Indiana |
| 20 | Columbia | Poetic name for America, from Columbus | Latin | Capital of South Carolina; also cities in Missouri and Maryland |
| 21 | Marion | French diminutive of Marie | French | Many towns named for Revolutionary War officer Francis Marion |
| 22 | Paris | From the French capital | French | Paris, Texas, and Paris, Tennessee |
| 23 | Shelby | An English surname, often said to mean willow farm | Old English | Many counties named for Isaac Shelby, Kentucky’s first governor |
City Names for Boys
Many boy names in this list are surnames that cities borrowed from founders, generals and presidents. They feel strong and friendly at the same time.
| No. | Name | Meaning | Origin | The Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin | Great, venerable (a medieval form of Augustine) | Latin, via English | Capital of Texas, named for Stephen F. Austin |
| 2 | Boston | St. Botolph’s town | Old English | Named after Boston in Lincolnshire, England |
| 3 | Bryce | Of uncertain meaning | Scottish | Bryce Canyon, Utah, named for pioneer Ebenezer Bryce |
| 4 | Camden | Of uncertain meaning; an English place name | Old English | Camden, New Jersey, named for the Earl of Camden |
| 5 | Carson | Of uncertain meaning; a Scottish surname | Scottish | Carson City, Nevada, named via the Carson River for Kit Carson |
| 6 | Chandler | Candle maker | English | Chandler, Arizona, named for founder Alexander Chandler |
| 7 | Cleveland | Cliff land, hilly land | Old English | Cleveland, Ohio, named for surveyor Moses Cleaveland |
| 8 | Cody | An Irish surname | Irish | Cody, Wyoming, named for William “Buffalo Bill” Cody |
| 9 | Dallas | Often said to mean meadow dwelling; a Scottish place name | Scottish | Dallas, Texas; who the city honors is debated |
| 10 | Dayton | Of uncertain meaning; an English surname | English | Dayton, Ohio, named for Jonathan Dayton |
| 11 | Denver | Often said to mean Danes’ ford | English | Capital of Colorado, named for James W. Denver |
| 12 | Eugene | Well-born | Greek | Eugene, Oregon, named for founder Eugene Skinner |
| 13 | Everett | Brave as a wild boar | Germanic, via English | Everett, Washington, named for Everett Colby |
| 14 | Franklin | Free landowner | English | Many towns named for Benjamin Franklin |
| 15 | Houston | Hugh’s town | Scottish | Houston, Texas, named for Sam Houston |
| 16 | Jackson | Son of Jack | English | Capital of Mississippi, named for Andrew Jackson |
| 17 | Laramie | From the French surname La Ramée | French | Laramie, Wyoming, named for fur trader Jacques La Ramée |
| 18 | Lincoln | Lake colony (from the English city of Lincoln) | Latin, Celtic | Capital of Nebraska, named for Abraham Lincoln |
| 19 | Logan | Small hollow | Scottish | Logan, Utah, named for trapper Ephraim Logan |
| 20 | Memphis | From the ancient capital of Egypt | Egyptian, via Greek | Memphis, Tennessee, named for the Egyptian city on the Nile |
| 21 | Orlando | Famous land (Italian form of Roland) | Germanic, via Italian | Orlando, Florida; the story behind the city’s name is debated |
| 22 | Quincy | Estate of Quintus, a Roman name meaning fifth | Latin, via French | Quincy, Massachusetts, named for Colonel John Quincy |
| 23 | Raleigh | Often said to mean roe deer meadow | Old English | Capital of North Carolina, named for Sir Walter Raleigh |
| 24 | Reno | A family surname of uncertain meaning | Uncertain | Reno, Nevada, named for Union general Jesse Reno |
| 25 | Trenton | Trent’s town | English | Capital of New Jersey, named for William Trent |
| 26 | Tyler | Tile maker | English | Tyler, Texas, named for President John Tyler |
| 27 | Boone | Of uncertain meaning; an English surname | English | Boone, North Carolina, named for frontiersman Daniel Boone |
| 28 | Easton | East town | Old English | Easton, Pennsylvania, and Easton, Maryland |
| 29 | Hamilton | Of uncertain meaning; from an English place name | Old English | Hamilton, Ohio, named for Alexander Hamilton |
| 30 | Jasper | Of uncertain meaning; often linked to a Persian word for treasurer | Persian | Towns in Alabama, Indiana, Texas and other states |
| 31 | Jefferson | Son of Geoffrey | English | Jefferson City, capital of Missouri, named for Thomas Jefferson |
| 32 | Kingston | King’s town | Old English | Kingston, New York, an early capital of the state |
| 33 | Princeton | Prince’s town | English | Princeton, New Jersey, home of Princeton University |
Unisex Names From Landmarks and Natural Wonders
Mountains, rivers, lakes and national parks give you names that work for any gender and carry a sense of the outdoors.
| No. | Name | Meaning | Origin | The Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aspen | The aspen tree | English | Aspen, Colorado, named for the trees that grow there |
| 2 | Cheyenne | From a Dakota word, often said to mean people of a different speech | Dakota (Sioux) | Capital of Wyoming, named for the Cheyenne people |
| 3 | Denali | The high one, the tall one | Koyukon | North America’s tallest peak, in Alaska |
| 4 | Hudson | Son of Hudd, a form of Hugh | English | The Hudson River, named for explorer Henry Hudson |
| 5 | Liberty | Freedom | Latin, via English | The Statue of Liberty and the Liberty Bell |
| 6 | Phoenix | The mythical bird reborn from its ashes | Greek | Capital of Arizona |
| 7 | Salem | Peace (from Jerusalem) | Hebrew | Salem, Massachusetts, and Salem, the capital of Oregon |
| 8 | Sequoia | Often said to honor Sequoyah, creator of the Cherokee syllabary; debated | Cherokee | Sequoia National Park, California |
| 9 | Shasta | From the name of the Shasta people | Native American | Mount Shasta, California |
| 10 | Sierra | Mountain range (literally saw) | Spanish | The Sierra Nevada mountains of California and Nevada |
| 11 | Tahoe | Lake (from the Washo language) | Washo | Lake Tahoe, on the California-Nevada border |
| 12 | Zion | A hill in Jerusalem; meaning uncertain | Hebrew | Zion National Park, Utah |
| 13 | Kona | Leeward, the side sheltered from the wind | Hawaiian | The Kona coast of Hawaii’s Big Island |
| 14 | Mesa | Table; also a flat-topped hill | Spanish | Mesa, Arizona, and the mesas of the Southwest |
| 15 | Monroe | Of uncertain meaning; a Scottish surname | Scottish | Many towns and counties named for President James Monroe |
Honoring Native American Origins With Care
Names like Dakota, Cheyenne, Shasta and Denali come from Native nations and languages that are still living today. Dakota, for example, comes from the Dakota people, and the word is usually translated as “friend” or “ally.” Denali comes from the Koyukon language and means “the high one.”
Other names on this list, like Tahoe from the Washo language and Shasta from the Shasta people, also come from living Native communities. Some meanings, such as the origin of Arizona or the link between Sequoia and Sequoyah, are still debated, and we have marked them that way rather than repeating a single popular story.
If you choose one of these names, take a few minutes to learn about the people and the language it comes from. Knowing the real origin lets you share it accurately with your child, and it shows respect for the communities whose words became part of the American map.
Spelling Variations of Place Names
Some parents keep a place name exactly as it appears on the map, while others adjust the spelling to make it feel more like a personal name. Brooklyn is sometimes written Brooklynn, and Savannah is sometimes shortened to Savanna. Classic spellings are easier for others to read, while new spellings can make a common name feel more personal.
Before you change a spelling, say the name out loud and write it down a few times. Think about whether your child will spend a lot of time correcting it, and whether the new spelling still connects to the place that inspired you.
Finding Inspiration Close to Home
The best place name may not be a famous city at all. Look at the street where you first lived together, the small town where a grandparent was born, a favorite lake or a hiking trail you return to every summer. Many local place names come from surnames, plants or old words that also work beautifully as first or middle names.
A quick check of the place’s history helps you avoid surprises and gives you a story to tell. A place name in the middle spot is also a gentle option if you want the connection without making it the name your child uses every day.
Place Names by Region
If you want a name that ties your child to one part of the country, it helps to look region by region:
- Northeast: Boston, Brooklyn, Hudson, Salem, Kingston, Quincy and Chelsea.
- South: Savannah, Charlotte, Raleigh, Memphis, Augusta, Atlanta and Carolina.
- Midwest: Madison, Lincoln, Cleveland, Dayton, Marion and Aurora.
- West and Southwest: Denver, Aspen, Sierra, Tahoe, Sedona, Phoenix and Cheyenne.
- Alaska and Hawaii: Denali and Kona.
Cities Named for Presidents
Many American cities honor U.S. presidents, and several of those surnames are popular first names today. Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Tyler and Lincoln all appear on the map and in the tables above. Choosing one of these names can be a nod to a city you love, to American history or simply to a strong surname sound.
If you go this route, read a little about the president behind the name. Every historical figure has a complicated record, and knowing the history helps you decide how you feel about the connection.
Tips for Choosing a Place-Inspired Name
- Pick a place that matters. The city where you met, a state where family lives or a park you love can turn a name into a story.
- Check the namesake. Many cities were named for a person. Make sure you are comfortable with that history.
- Think about nicknames. Alexandria can be Lexi or Andie, and Franklin can be Frank. Short forms make long place names easier to wear.
- Consider unisex appeal. Dakota, Phoenix, Hudson and Sierra work for any child. See more in our guide to gender-neutral baby names.
- Look at famous Americans. Many place names honor well-known people. Browse our lists of the most famous American women and the most famous American men for more ideas.
- Say it with your last name. Place names can sound like an address when paired with certain surnames, so try the full name out loud.
Tip: Love a Southern city name like Savannah or Augusta? Our list of Southern baby names has many more names with regional roots.
Putting Your Baby on the Map
A place-inspired name can celebrate where your family comes from, a spot that changed your life or simply the wide variety of the American landscape. Start with the places that mean something to you, check the real story behind the name, and choose the one that feels like home. Our step-by-step guide on how to choose a baby name can help you narrow your list.
REFERENCES
Frequently Asked Questions
Dakota comes from the name of the Dakota people and is usually translated as friend or ally. North and South Dakota are named for them.
Both. Austin is a medieval English form of Augustine, meaning great or venerable, and the Texas capital was named for Stephen F. Austin.
Dakota, Phoenix, Hudson, Sierra, Aspen and Denali are place-inspired names that work for any gender.
Savannah comes from the Spanish word sabana, meaning a grassy plain. It is also the name of a city and river in Georgia.
Hello! I’m Emma Carter, born in 1990, and a passionate child development specialist. Alongside my work, I have a deep love for helping parents discover beautiful and meaningful baby names. I believe a name is more than just a label — it’s the beginning of a child’s story. I draw inspiration from languages, cultures, traditions, and even the hidden meanings behind names to help find the perfect fit for every little one’s bright future.